Curriculum Vitae

PAUL E. JARZEMBOWSKI

paul@pauljarzembowski.com
www.pauljarzembowski.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops (USCCB)‍ ‍(Washington, DC)
2013 - present
Associate Director for the Laity
(previously Assistant Director)

  • Principal staff for the U.S. bishops’ initiatives related to the lay apostolate, lay movements, lay ecclesial ministry, lay chaplaincy, mental health, sports, ministry with young adults, and World Youth Day. Staff liaison to the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life on young people, WYD, and laity issues.

  • Strategy consultant for bishops, dioceses/eparchies, apostolates, religious communities, national and international groups on the laity, young people, outreach, and strategically navigating ecclesial structures.

  • Supervision and/or mentorship of staff within the Laity Secretariat; team leadership for 2015 papal visit, 2017 Convocation of Catholic Leaders, Fifth (V) Encuentro, 2018 Synod on Young People, Journeying Together, and 2025 Jubilee of Hope.

  • Writing, editing, and collaborative work within USCCB, engaging on interdepartmental initiatives/projects on laity, young people, and major Conference events; project manager and lead editor for Moving Boldly into the Future (2022), Listen, Teach, Send (2024) and the anticipated pastoral document on the laity.

Diocese of Joliet in Illinois 2006 - 2013
Director of Young Adult Ministry

  • Principal staff for ministry with young adults: provided consultation, training, mentoring, and development of ministry initiatives and supervised staff and volunteers within the diocesan structure.

Loyola University Chicago 2011 - 2012
Adjunct Faculty (part-time)

  • Instructor for masters/graduate-level course within the Loyola Institute for Pastoral Studies (IPS).

National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association
2005 - 2013
Executive Director (part-time)

  • National director responsible for the organization’s budget, management, and visioning; developed and delivered training, consultations, and presentations; engaged in national advocacy work on young adults.

Holy Family Catholic Church
(Inverness, Illinois)‍
2003 - 2006
Director of Young Adult Ministry

  • Manager and leader of parish’s young adult outreach and programming; mentored and integrated young adults into the life of the community; advised the pastor, staff, and parish on young adult needs/realities.

EDUCATION

D.Min. (cand.) | 2027 (anticipated)
Catholic Theological Union (CTU)
Educating for Witness
Chicago, Illinois

Doctoral Project: “The Hope and Promise of Good Church Politics: Recovering the Political Dynamics of the Ekklḕsia for the Synodal Flourishing of Catholic Communities”
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Scholar

M.A. Pastoral Studies | 2010
Loyola University Chicago
Institute of Pastoral Studies
Chicago, Illinois‍

Thesis Project: Pastoral Formation for Ministry with Young Adults
Graduated Magna Cum Laude

B.A. Communications and Theology | 1999
Valparaiso University
College of Arts and Sciences
Valparaiso, Indiana‍

Majors: Communications and Theology | Minor: Political Science
Graduated Magna Cum Laude

MONOGRAPHS

Hope for the Holidays: Finding Light in the Darkest Time of Year (author) | Paulist Press © 2023

Moving Boldly into the Future: Pope Francis, Young Adults, Ministry Leaders, and Bishops in Dialogue (executive editor and writer) | USCCB Publications © 2022 (June 2022)

Hope from the Ashes: Insights and Resources for Welcoming Lenten Visitors (author) | Paulist Press © 2022

ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES

“Foreword” in The Path of Discernment: Hearing God’s Call. Written by Matt Kresich, Paulist Press © 2026.

Young Adult Ministry in a Box, Revised Edition (contributing writer) | Edited by Fr. Evan Cummings, CSP, Busted Halo Ministries © 2026 (https://youngadultministryinabox.com/)

“The Compassionate Christ: U.S. Church Responds to Mental Health Crisis” in Catholic Rural Life Magazine, Vol. 67, No. 4 (“Mental Health: Drawing Near to the Suffering”), James Ennis, Exec Director © 2025 (Fall 2025)

“Approach young people using Listen, Teach, Send” (co-author, with Maria R. Parker) in Horizon: Journal of the National Religious Vocation Conference, Vol. 50, No. 4, Jesús Leyva, Editor, NRVC © 2025 (Fall 2025)

“Pier Giorgio Frassati: From the Ordinary to the Extraordinary” (author) in the National Eucharistic Revival blog-website, published by the National Eucharistic Revival, Inc. © 2025 (September 2025)

“Has Our Vision Changed? Assessing the U.S. Bishops’ Approach to Young People, Then and Now” (author) in Empowered by the Spirit: Revisiting a Vision, Renewing the Call: 40 th Anniversary Symposium Essay Collection, Timothy P. O’Malley, Ph.D., Jessica Montgomery, and Rosie Chinea Shawver, M.Div., Editors, Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA) © 2025 (May 2025)

Implementation Guidebook for Listen, Teach, Send: A National Pastoral Framework for Ministries with

Youth and Young Adults (contributor/writer and executive editor) | USCCB Publications © 2025 (March 2025)

“Sharing Hope for the Hopeless: How to set the tone to welcome visitors and guests” (author) in The Priest Bishop David Bonner, Editor, Our Sunday Visitor © 2024 (November 2024)

“Catholics love Lent: How can we keep them coming back for more?” (author) in America: The Jesuit Review Kerry Weber, Executive Editor, America Press, Inc. © 2023 (February 22, 2023)

“Good News!” (foreword author) in Saint Meinrad Young Adult Initiative Report | Edited by Tammy Becht and Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale; Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology © 2022 (May 2022)

“Healing Hearts and Binding Up Wounds: Reclaiming a Pastoral Perspective on Ministry with Young Adults” (author) in USCCB Evangelization and Catechesis Website | USCCB Publications, Inc. © 2020

“Mobilizing the Field Hospital: Pastoral Care as a Paradigm for Ministry” (author) in Religions MDPI Open-Access Online Journal, 2020, 11, 617; doi:10.3390/rel11110617 © 2020

“Chapter 7: Reimagining Ministry with Young People” (chapter author) in Exploring Christus Vivit Edited by Gerard Gallagher; Veritas Publications (Ireland) © 2020

“Language Matters: Understanding How Young People Are Defined in Christus Vivit and Implications for the Church in the United States of America” (author) in Pre-Conference Papers: Voice + Vision National Summit Edited by Dr. Bob Rice and Dr. Tracey Lamont, Franciscan University of Steubenville © 2019

Panama2019: World Youth Day USA Pilgrim Journal and Pilgrimage Leader Guide (executive editor and writer) USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, USCCB Publications © 2019

Fifth National Encuentro: Program Book (executive editor and writer) USCCB Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, USCCB Publications © 2018

Convocation of Catholic Leaders: Participant Guidebook and Program Book (executive editor and writer) USCCB Bishops Working Group on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, USCCB Publications © 2017

“Foreword: Now More Than Ever” in 20s/30s Ministry: A Guide for Parishes. Written and edited by Rev. Nicholas E. Lombardo, O.P., Paulist Press © 2016

Krakow2016: World Youth Day USA Pilgrim Journal and Pilgrimage Leader Guide (executive editor and writer) USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, USCCB Publications © 2016

Catholic Match Blog: Faith, Hope, & Love (blog contributor) | CatholicMatch.com © 2010-2015

The Next Generation of Pastoral Leaders: Their Chips Are All In (co-editor and writer) Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Project, National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM) © 2012

Spiritual Popcorn (monthly syndicated columnist) in Faith Catholic Magazine | Magazine edited by Elizabeth Solsburg, Faith Publications © 2009-2012

Young Adult Ministry in a Box, Inaugural Edition (contributing writer and founding team) | Edited by Fr. Dave Dwyer, CSP, Busted Halo Ministries © 2012

“Commentary” (commentary chapter author) in The Next Generation of Catholic Leaders Written and edited by Dr. Dean R. Hoge and Dr. Marti R. Jewell, Loyola Press © 2010

“Chapter 4: Almost Ready” (chapter author) in Young and Catholic in America Written and edited by Kevin Meme and Jeffery Joseph Guhin, Paulist Press © 2010

“No More Business as Usual” (chapter author) in The Changing Spirituality of Emerging Adults | Edited by Dr. Tim Clydesdale; Catholic University of America Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies © 2010

Paul has also been interviewed by and featured in AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast, America: The Jesuit Review, the Catholic Apostolate Center Podcast, the Catholic Channel SiriusXM (Busted Halo Show and Katie McGrady Show), Catholic News Agency (CNA), Catholic News Service (CNS), The Christian Post, Crux, Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), Heart of the Ark Podcast, OSV News, The Pillar, National Catholic Register (NCR), National Catholic Reporter, the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, The Tablet, U.S. Catholic, Vatican News, Where Peter Is, and local media outlets for Catholic dioceses. A select sample of interviews include:

References available upon request.